She was with son George, nine, and daughter Charlie, 12, when she was met with the dilemma at Longleat Safari Park.

At first she thought the car was steam and sounded her horn, but then realised it was smoke when it got thicker and started to come into her car along with flames.

Mrs Clements told the BBC that she and George opened their doors as the park rangers started running towards them.

"Unfortunately they were shouting to us 'get back in the car, do not get out of the car'.

"It was a situation of 'what do you do?' Do you get out of the car because you're on fire? And they're telling you to get back in the car, so that was the dilemma."

George ran from the car, unaware that the lions were behind nearby cars and could have reached him in seconds.

Mrs Clements called him back and a ranger eventually pulled up and they all jumped into his vehicle.

Speaking after her ordeal, she could see the funny side: "It could have been in the flamingos or the camels, but no - it had to be in the lion enclosure."

The park was closed following the dramatic scenes in the lion enclosure and no animals were harmed.

A witness told the BBC: "The lions just kept their distance and didn't take their eyes off the fire and smoke. The rangers were pushing them back but they were reluctant on moving away as they looked interested."